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Privilegia Londini: Or, The Rights, Liberties, Privileges, Laws,...

Bohun, William

The Laws, Rights and Liberties of London Bohun, William. Privilegia Londini: Or, The Rights, Liberties, Privileges, Laws, And Custom of the City of London. Wherein are Contained, I. The Several Charters Granted to the Said City, From King William I. to the Present Times. II. The Magistrates and Officers Thereof, With Their Respective Creations, Elections, Rights, Duties, And Authorities. III. The Laws and Customs of the City, As the Same Relate Either to the Persons or Estates of the Citizens; Viz. of Freemens Wills, Feme-Sole Merchants, Orphans, Apprentices, &c. IV. The Nature, Jurisdiction, Practice, And Proceedings of the Several Courts Thereof, With Tables of Fees Relating Thereto. V. The Several Statutes Concerning the Said City, And Citizens, Alphabetically Digested. With Large Additions. London: Printed for D. John Walthoe Junr., 1723. xvi, 272, 273-296, 273-498, [22] pp. Signatures *T-*U4 (pp.273-296) have been inserted; text is continuous (and complete). Octavo (7-1/2" x 4-3/4"). Contemporary calf, blind frames to boards, later calf rebacking with blind fillets and red and black lettering pieces, endpapers renewed. Rubbing to extremities with light wear, a few minor scuffs to boards. Woodcut head-pieces, tail-pieces and decorated initials. Moderate toning to text, occasional light dampspotting. Early owner name to head of title page, annotations to margins of a few leaves. Ex-library. Inkstamps to boards, bookplate to front pastedown, perforated stamps to title page and a few other leaves. A solid copy. $200. * Third and final edition. "Having observed in the Course of our English History many Attempts made (by the Ministers of some artful and designing Princes) to weaken and undermine the ancient, legal, and fundamental Rights, Liberties, and Privileges of the City and Citizens of London: I thought myself obliged to Endeavor to collect and ascertain such Laws, Customs, and Usages of the said City, Wherein the Original Constitution and Foundation of its Government seem to have been laid; and whereby its Happiness, Opulency, and Glory do (under God and his present Majesty) evidently subsist" (Preface). Though little is known about his life, Bohun was an attorney and prolific author who published well-received treatises on legal education, pleading, ecclesiastical law and other subjects. The first and second editions.